Apparatus for addressing envelopes



Sept. 18, 1962 P. MARCOTT 3,054,339

APPARATUS FOR ADDRESSING ENVELOPES Filed Oct. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 61 Paul Morcon FIG.4.

Sept. 18, 1962 P. MARCOTT APPARATUS FOR ADDRESSING ENVELOPES Filed Oct. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Pa ul Morcott MMQ M FIG.7.

Patented Sept. 18, 1962 3,054,339 APPARATUS FOR ADDRESSING ENVELOPES Paul Marcott, Fort Worth, Tex., assignor t Marcograph, LttL, Long Branch, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 770,468 3 Claims. (Cl. 9575) The present invention relates to an apparatus for addressing envelopes, and has for an object elimination of stencils, plates and the like employed with conventional addressing equipment. Heretofore, the industry has accepted machines for addressing envelopes which employ stencils or stamped plates having embossed letters thereon, one plate being necessary for each address. These plates, in addition to being bulky and cumbersome, have had the attendant disadvantage of having to be stored in special racks and also the disadvantage of using ink which leaves its traces about the premises. When employing the device of the prior art and it is necessary to make a correction, the entire plate must be discarded and a new plate formed. This is costly since each plate costs many times that of the conventional three by five card. Special equipment is also required with the prior art devices to prepare these plates by placing the addresses or names thereon.

Another object of my invention is the use of a simple three by five card, which card has the name and address merely typed on the card and should an address change be necessary, a new card is merely substituted for the old card at an absolute minimum of cost. The conventional typewriter may be employed in preparing cards for use with the present invention and also the cards of the present invention may be prepared to give the personal touch by handwritten notations.

A still further object of the present invention is the use of a transfer of a photosensitive nature in which no pretreatment preparation is required for the envelopes. The finished product due to the photo transfer is permanent, will not smear or smudge or fade for a period of at least six months. It is believed that the permanence will exceed that of six months.

In accordance with the present invention the master card employed may be used an unlimited number of times. The master card need not be given extra special treatment in either preparation or storage and can be stored flat adjacent or right against one another in stacks and placed in drawers or tables.

The present invention in its broad sense is a process for providing paper stock such as envelopes with intelligence or written information thereon which has been transferred to the envelope through the medium of a photosensitive paper printed against the envelope and is not involved in the mechanical operation of ink transfer and preparation.

The master cards containing the information to be placed on the envelopes are pressed against an endless length of photosensitive paper having an emulsion on one side, the printed side of the card being pressed against the emulsion side of the paper, that is, the film from which the printing will ultimately be done, and the card and film are then passed over a light box in which there is a fluorescent or suitable lamp of the necessary candle power dependent upon the emulsion and opening in the top of the box for emitting light to assure a proper exposure of the paper and card to the light, keeping in mind that the paper will be moving linearly and will not be stationary during exposure.

The thus photographed sensitized paper is then run through a developer bath and prior to entry of this portion of the paper into the bath, the card has been removed from the paper and the thus photographed section of the paper is run through a developer bath. This developer bath is electrically heated to maintain the desired temperature and is of sufficient length to assure a proper development of this sector of the photographed paper. The exposed and developed photosensitive paper emerging from the developing bath is then passed between a pair of rolls which constitute printing rolls and which cooperate with envelopes fed thereto by a suitable mechanism. When an envelope is inserted between the printing rolls and the developed photosensitive paper, an offset pressure transfer printing takes place whereby the photographed intelligence from the master cards is then transferred from the photosensitive paper to the envelope. Thereafter the envelope is separated from the printed photosensitive paper for distribution and the exposed or used photosensitive paper is discarded. Any suitable means may be employed for disposing of the waste material of photosensitive paper. The cards have been previously disposed of prior to the printing operation and the cards may thereafter be restored from the card tray back to a card maga- Zine at the lead end of the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto,

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is avertical longitudinal section taken through a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view with the rear cover removed of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic of a modified form of the present invention, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a form of light box employed with the present invention, showing the adjustable shutter opening.

Referring for the moment to FIGURES 1 through 4, inclusive, l0 designates a machine having a bottom 11, end walls 12 and 13 and a top 14. The machine has a front panel 15 and a rear panel 16 which is of a greater vertical height than the panel 15. The panel '16 is closed with the top 14 by a housing 17. Within the machine structure described above is a photosensitive paper compartment 18 defined by a housing 19 having a paper eduction slot 20 therein for accommodating and permitting the passage therethrough of a photosensitive paper 21.

The photosensitive paper 21 passes over a roller 22 and a roller 23 journalled for rotation in the machine housing. Beneath the roller 23 is a roller 24 rotatably journalled in a developer tray support 25 which accommodates a developer tray 26 over which is mounted a slide member 27 having two freely rotatable rollers 28 and 29. This slide member is carried by a guide rail 30 having a slot 31 therein. A wing nut 32 permits securing the slide member 27 at any desired point along the guide rail 30. The photosensitive paper 21 then passes beneath a roller 33 and thence passes between a pair of wiper blades 34, thence to a positive driven pair of printing rolls 3'5, 36 and between a pair of positive driven feed rolls 37, 38 into a waste receptacle 39.

Located between the rolls 22, 23 is a light box 40 having one or more lamps 41 therein and having a light emitting aperture 42 at the top thereof. This aperture 42 may be regulated as to the amount of its opening as will be described more fully hereinafter. Vertically above the light box 46 is an endless belt 43 passing about a pair of rollers 44, 45. This assembly, the belt 43 and rollers 44, 45, constitute a card and paper pressing and advancing means.

Located in advance of the belt 43 is a card-receiving magazine 46 having an eduction slot 47 therein for ejecting cards 4t singly from the magazine 46. The card ejecting mechanism in the form illustrated consists of a pair of segmented rolls 4-9 secured for rotation on a shaft The round or driving surface of the segmented roller 49 has a linear distance equal to the shorter dimension of the card 48 and due to the fiat or segmented portion will not continuously feed cards but will space cards fed from the magazine 46.

Located at the other end of the belt 43 is a card-receiving receptacle 51.

Adjacent the printing couple rolls 35, 36 is an envelope stock magazine 52 having an eduction slot 53 therein for permitting ejection of envelopes 54 stacked in the magazine 52. The drive means for ejecting envelopes from the envelope magazine 52 consists of a pair of segmented rolls 55 secured on a shaft 56 for rotation therewith. The curved or circumferential portion of the rollers 55 should not exceed the length of the shorter dimension of the envelopes. The flat portion of the segmented rollers 55 functions in a way similar to the segmented rollers 49 for pulsing or ejecting envelopes at spaced intervals in registry with the photosensitive paper passing between the bight of the printing rolls 35, 36. A receptacle 57 is provided at the other side of the printing rolls 35, 36 for receiving addressed envelopes 58.

The machine is driven by an electric motor 59 through a suitable gear reducing means 60 for driving a gear 61 which, as best seen in FIGURE 6, meshes with a gear 62 which drives the segmented roller 49 by reason of being secured to shaft 50. The gear 62 is in driving mesh with a gear 63 which drives the roll 44 which imparts a motion to the belt 43. The segmented rollers 55 are driven by a pulley 64 secured to the shaft 56 and driven by a V-belt 65 which is powered from a pulley secured for rotation with the shaft 50 which is driven by the gear 62. One of the printing rolls 35 receives a positive drive from a pulley 66 secured thereto to compel rotation and which receives its power from a V-belt 67 which in turn is driven from a triple V-pulley 68 receiving its driving power from a V-belt 69 driven by the pulley 64. One of the feed rollers 38 receives positive driving power from a pulley 76 secured thereto to compel rotation from a V-belt 71.

All of the driving pulleys and gear mechanism are shown within the housing at the back of the machine.

The light box 40, as best seen in FIGURE 8, may have the light aperture 42 carried by a shutter 4-2 slidable along the opening by an operating lever 42*.

Referring for the moment to FIGURE 7, there is illustrated a modified form of card and envelope ejecting device which consists of a pair of endless belts 49 and 55 which are provided with cleats or lugs 49 and 55 for positively ejecting and spacing the cards and envelopes ejected from the respective magazines.

Operation The mode of operation in accordance with the illustrated form of the invention provides magazines 46, 52 for storing the master cards 48 and stock envelopes 54 in a vertical position and having ejecting means in the form of pair of segmented rollers 49, 55 therebeneath. These rollers are positioned to frictionally engage and impinge upon the bottom card 48 or envelope 54 of each magazine and upon rotation of these segmented rollers 49, 55 the non-flat portion will provide frictional driving engagement With the card and advance it along the line of motion of the machine, and the cards 48 will enter the bight between a guide roller 22 for the photosensitive supply roll and the pressure roll 44 for forcing the card 48 bearing the intelligence thereon against the photosensitive paper 21 prior to passing the same over a light exposure aperture 42. The light exposure aperture 42 may also be varied in area with the suitable shutter mechanism 42 to compensate for the use of varying or different kinds of photosensitive materials. This variable shutter 42 in the light box 40 may be employed to compensate for irregularities in line voltage with which the equipment may be employed.

The photosensitive paper 21 when introduced into the developer bath 26 is passed over or threaded about the pair of guide rollers 28, 29 which are carried on the support member 27 which may be adjusted longitudinally of the bath vessel 26. This is accomplished by the slot in the independent rail 30 vertically above the bath 26 along which the roller support 37 is slid. This will, of course, control the length and hence time of emersion. The speed of all moving parts being constant, the length of emersion can be varied to control the degree of development of the photosensitive material.

Cooperating with the printing rollers 35, 36 between which the photosensitive paper 21 is fed after having emerged from the developing tray 26, the magazine 52 for storing envelopes 54 to be fed to the printing rolls place the envelopes 54 in matched registry with the intelligence on the developed photosensitive paper 21 whereby the name and address, for example, on the developed sheet will register in the proper place on the face of the envelope 54 when the envelope and photosensitive material are introduced between the printing rolls 35, 36. This magazine 52 is somewhat similar to the master card magazine 46 in that vertical storage is provided with a pair of segmented discs or rollers beneath the open bottom of the envelope magazine for compelling frictional engagement of the rollers with the bottom envelope and thereby feeding the envelope into the nip or bight of the printing rollers 35, 36.

After the printed photosensitive paper 21 has left the printing rolls 35, 36, the paper is passed between a pair of feed rollers 37, 38 which are the prime source for pulling the length of photosensitive paper 21 through the apparatus and causing the same to be paid out from the initial roll which is stored, for example, beneath the light sensitive box 40. To assist this driving of the photosensitive paper 21 through the machine, it will be noted that the pressure means 43, 44 and 45 above the light sensitive box will assist in drawing the photosensitive paper 21 oh the supply roll because of the frictional engagement between the card 48 and photosensitive paper 21. This is an endless belt 43 or rubber sheet roll which will give a considerable compressed force and since the same is driven in a positive engagement will tend to act as a driving or feed bight.

In a manner similar to that just described, the printing rolls 35, 36, because of their positive frictional engagement with the photosensitive paper 21, will also assist in pulling the endless len th of photosensitive material 21 through the machine and paying the same off the supply roll.

Now also of importance is the developer 26. The developing solution employed must be compatible with the photosensitive material 21 employed and, for example, it has been found that the photosensitive material 21 presently marketed by the Eastman Kodak Company under the trademark Verifax is most suitable for this type of operation and that the developer supplied by Eastman Kodak for developing this master Verifax is a workable solution. I do limit myself, however, to this particular photosensitive material and developer since other photosensitive materials and developers may be employed or may be developed in the future and not presently knovm by me which would work equally as Well as with the apparatus of the present invention provided these ratios and relationships are preserved as described hereinabove as to light, linear speed and time in the developing bath or tray 26.

Although I have disclosed herein the best forms of the invention known to me at this time, I reserve the right to all such modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for addressing envelopes from fiat surfaced cards or the like having addresses thereon on non-photographically sensitized envelope faces comprising magazine means for storing the cards having data thereon to be transferred, a continuously moving length of photosensitized paper, a light box, means associated with the light box, card, and photosensitized paper for urging the card against the photosensitized paper when the card and paper are passed over the light box, developing means positioned to receive the continuously moving photosensitized paper after exposure to the light box, magazine means for feeding envelopes positioned to continuously feed the envelopes onto the developed photosensitized paper, pressure transfer means positioned to receive the envelopes and developed photosensitized paper for continuous transfer of the developed data on the photosensitized paper onto the envelope, and envelope collection means positioned to receive the addressed envelopes from said pressure transfer means separate from said photosensitized paper, said photosensitized paper being mechanically stripped from the addressed envelopes.

2. A machine for addressing non-photographically sensitized envelopes from flat surfaced cards having addresses thereon comprising a card magazine, a light box, a length of continuously moving photographically sensitive paper positioned to pass over said light box, means associated with said card magazine and light box for ejecting a card from said magazine onto the photographically sensitized surface of said paper, pressure feed means positioned above said light box for pressing the ejected card into physical contact with the continuously moving paper and for positive feeding of the paper and card past the light box, developing means positioned to receive and continuously develop the paper from the light box, a stock magazine, means associated with said stock magazine for ejecting a unit of non-photographically sensitized dry stock from said magazine onto said continuously moving developed paper, transfer means positioned to urge the developed photographically sensitized paper against the non-photographically sensitized dry stock to effect a transfer of the data from the paper onto the stock while said stock is kept in the dry condition, and means positioned to receive the address stock from said transfer means and to automatically strip the addressed stock from said photographically sensitized paper.

3. For use with a plurality of flat surfaced cards having intelligence thereon, non-photographically sensitized dry envelope stock and a supply roll of paper or the like having a photographically sensitized surface on one side, an automatic addressing machine comprising a magazine for storing the cards to be copied having an eduction slot therein, a light box having a light emitting aperture therein over which paper from said photosensitized supply roll continuously passes, card ejection means positioned to eject cards singly from said magazine onto the light box, card and paper pressing and advancing means positioned above said light box for urging the printed face of the card against the photosensitized surface of the paper as the card and paper continuously advance over the light box, developing means positioned to receive the exposed paper from the light box to continuously develop same, an envelope stock magazine having an eduction slot therein for receiving a supply of non-photographically sensitized dry envelopes upon which is to be transferred the data developed on the paper, transfer pressure means located adjacent the eduction slot of said envelope magazine, envelope ejecting means positioned to eject an envelope from said magazine into said transfer pressure means in registry with developed intelligence on said paper whereby the intelligence from said paper is transferred to the envelope, and envelope stripping and collecting means positioned to receive the addressed envelopes from said transfer pressure means separating and collecting the addressed envelopes from the photosensitized paper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,511,102 Clouser June 13, 1950 2,563,343 Land Aug. 7, 1951 2,582,001 Bornemann Jan. 8, 1952 2,654,300 Baker Oct. 6, 1953 2,732,778 Lirnberger Jan. 31, 1956 2,739,890 Yutzy et a1 Mar. 27, 1956 21,756,143 Murray July 24, 1956 2,794,376 Fairbank et a1. Jan. 4, 1957 2,903,954 Schwienbacher Sept. 15, 1959 

